Closure for container

Abstract

A closure for containers which is inexpensively and easily manufactured and is readily removeable in whole or in part to gain access to contents in the container. The closure comprises a generally flat cap member sealed at its periphery to the mouth of the container. An upstanding tubular member on the surface of the cap is partially surrounded by a score line in the cap and the score line preferably continues all around the cap near its periphery. The tubular member preferably has rigidifying means in its closed top and side walls which can be readily flexed inwardly so that the tubular member can be firmly grasped and pulled to readily initiate a rupture in the score line at a stress-concentrating focal point on that portion of the score line adjacent the tubular member. The cap can then be easily removed by continued pulling of the tubular member.

We claim: 
     
       1. A closure for a container for sealing the neck of the container comprising a generally flat cap hermetically sealed to the neck, a score line in a surface thereof, a tear-initiating means associated with the score line which comprises a hollow tubular member extending upwardly from the top surface of the cap and adapted for initiating a rupture of the score line at a stress-concentrating locus on the score line, said tubular member having a generally flat closed outer end and an open inner end which coincides with an opening in the surface of the cap, and said tubular member having a generally oval cross-section, said oval cross-section defining a major axis and a minor axis. 
     
     
       2. The closure of claim 1 wherein the closed end of the tubular member further includes rigidifying means. 
     
     
       3. The closure of claim 2 wherein the rigidifying means comprises the closed end of the tubular member having a thickness which is greater than the thickness of at least portions of side walls of the tubular member. 
     
     
       4. The closure of claim 3 wherein the side walls adjacent the major axis are thinner than the side walls adjacent the minor axis. 
     
     
       5. The closure of claim 3 wherein the side walls adjacent the minor axis are thinner than the side walls adjacent the major axis. 
     
     
       6. The closure of claim 3 wherein the sidewalls between the major and minor axes are thinner than the sidewalls adjacent the major and minor axes. 
     
     
       7. The closure of claim 3 wherein the sidewalls between the major and minor axes are thicker than the sidewalls adjacent the major and minor axes. 
     
     
       8. The closure of claim 2 wherein the rigidifying means comprises at least one rib on a surface of the closed end of the tubular member lying substantially parallel to the minor axis. 
     
     
       9. The closure of claim 1 wherein the score line comprises a first groove in a surface of the cap which extends all the way around the cap adjacent the sealed portion of the cap, a second groove in a surface of the cap, one end of the second groove commencing at the first groove, extending around a portion of the tubular member and terminating at a point intermediate the tubular member and the first groove. 
     
     
       10. The closure of claim 9 wherein the portion of the second groove extending around the portion of the tubular member generally forms an apex which comprises the stress-concentrating locus of the score line. 
     
     
       11. The closure of claim 10 wherein a rib joins a side wall of the tubular member to the top surface of the cap, the rib being positioned at the apex of the second groove. 
     
     
       12. The closure of claims 9, 10 or 11 wherein the tubular member is located adjacent the first groove. 
     
     
       13. A container with a closure for enclosing the neck on the container, the closure comprising a generally flat cap which extends across the neck and having an outer portion which is sealed to the rim on the neck, a first score line in the cap generally parallel to and extending adjacent to the entire sealed outer portion; a tubular gripping means having a closed outer end and an open inner end and extending vertically from the top surface of the cap, a second score line in the cap which is adjacent the tubular gripping means, the second score line having one end delineating part of a stress-concentrating area on the cap and the other end of the second score line terminating at the first score line, a third score line in the cap having one end joining said one end of the second score line and delineating the remaining part of the stress-concentrating area, the third score line extending beyond the tubular gripping means and having its other end terminate at a point intermediate the tubular gripping means and the first score line, the closed end of the tubular gripping means having rigidifying means on the closed outer end, said tubular gripping means being generally oval in cross section with a major axis and a minor axis. 
     
     
       14. The container of claim 13 wherein the tubular gripping means is located adjacent the first score line. 
     
     
       15. The container of claim 13 wherein the rigidifying means comprises the closed outer end having a thickness which is greater than the thickness of at least portions of side walls of the tubular gripping means. 
     
     
       16. The container of claim 13 wherein a rib joins a side wall of the tubular gripping means to the top surface of the cap within the stress-concentrating area between the second and third score lines.